As organizations strive to become more competitive in today's challenging business environment, global supply chain management (GSCM) infused by information technology (IT) is being offered as a paradigm to achieve dramatic improvements in cost and time. This study examines the critical role played by IT to improve GSCM practices. The paper starts by classifying all the IT related articles dealing with GSCM into four research streams. Next, a practical IT framework that organizations can use for achieving a true GSCM is presented. This is followed by examples of corporations that provide IT solutions for GSCM and of corporations that have benefited from using IT in their GSCM efforts. Finally, conclusions and implications for IT-related issues pertaining to GSCM are suggested.
The new competitive environment requires firms to produce products with greater specificity to customer needs. Traditional approaches historically employed by manufacturers, such as the use of planning bills and standard interactions among suppliers and buyers, may not prove to be as effective in this new environment. In our research, we first seek to differentiate the traditional Made to Stock (MTS) environment from the emerging Build to Order (BTO) one. In addition, given the global nature of supply chains today, we also compare BTO operations in developed countries with those in the developing world. The results from this study can be useful to practicing managers because we provide specific directions on aligning supply chains for the BTO environment across the globe. In addition, this research adds to the theoretical development of postponement strategies in manufacturing, and establishes empirical links between the international operations, build to order environment, and supply chain literatures. #
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